Manchester City launch shock £18m bid for Jonny Evans

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking to bolster his defensive ranks
West Brom centre back Jonny Evans has emerged as a shock transfer target
Any move would carry an edge due to his long-term association with Man United
Baggies are determined not to sell Evans - and rejected an initial £18m move
It could take £25m to even test West Brom's resolve, with Evans a key player

By Laurie Whitwell and Mike Keegan For The Daily Mail

Published: 13:44 EDT, 16 August 2017 | Updated: 18:25 EDT, 16 August 2017

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Manchester City have had a shock £18million bid for Jonny Evans rejected by West Bromwich Albion to leave Pep Guardiola weighing up another offer.

Guardiola wants to add to his central defensive options after deciding to play a back-three system.

With Eliaquim Mangala set to depart, City only have John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany as central defensive choices and all three started at Brighton on Saturday.

Manchester City have had a shock £18million bid for Jonny Evans rejected by West Brom

The Baggies are determined not to sell Evans, who has been made captain for this season

Pep Guardiola wants to add to his central defensive options after deciding to play a back-three

HOW DOES JONNY EVANS COMPARE?
	Nicolas Otamendi	John Stones	Vincent Kompany	Eliaquim Mangala	Jonny Evans
Pass accuracy	88%	92%	88%	84%	80%
Duels won	65%	69%	56%	59%	61%
Tackles won	75%	80%	71%	75%	57%
Ariel Duels won	64%	64%	68%	60%	61%

Evans would help City with the home-grown quota, but the move carries baggage because of his long association with Manchester United, where he won three Premier League titles before moving to the Hawthorns for £8m in 2015.

West Brom do not want to sell and have already rejected two bids this summer from Leicester for their new captain, who has two years left on his £75,000-per-week contract.